Detective Sherdil

Detective Sherdil, starring the ever-charismatic Diljit Dosanjh, had all the ingredients for a quirky, offbeat detective caper-but sadly, it ends up being an overcooked mess. The film struggles so much with its identity that it feels like the director wasn't sure whether they were making a Hindi comedy, a Punjabi slapstick, or a serious detective thriller-and in the process, they've failed at all three.

Diljit, as always, brings charm and likability to the screen, but even he can't salvage a script that's all over the place. The humor flips awkwardly between exaggerated regional jokes and forced Bollywood-style punchlines. This tonal confusion not only breaks the pacing but also disconnects the viewer from whatever emotional or narrative stakes the film tries to establish.

The detective aspect-promised in the title-barely holds up. Any hint of suspense or mystery is drowned out by comic skits that feel more like outtakes from a Punjabi stage show than elements of a cohesive plot. Scenes that should build intrigue instead derail into gimmicky distractions.

There are moments where you can almost see the potential-clever dialogues here, an interesting clue there-but those moments vanish quickly under the weight of genre confusion. It's as if the director kept switching hats mid-scene: now a detective movie, now a desi comedy, now something else entirely.

Detective Sherdil ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. It had the star power, the premise, and the cultural flair to stand out. But with no clear direction, it ends up being a chaotic mix that satisfies neither fans of mysteries nor those looking for a solid laugh. For all its noise and energy, it lacks clarity and purpose. Proceed only if you're a hardcore Diljit fan-or very, very curious.

I hoped that Diljit Dosanjh's natural likability and comic timing would make Detective Sherdil an entertaining watch especially if the core mystery is well conceptualized. Unfortunately Diljit's character comes across as a bit of an arrogant know it all detective with fake accent. The overall mystery is not bad but the movie ends up with more than required twists and turns and some plot holes which would not have mattered if we would have either got the fun loving Diljit of Good Newwz and Crew or even the serious Diljit of Jogi and Chamkila.

The production value of the movie looks good but the direction and execution feels a bit Amateurish. Even well established actors like Ratna Pathak Shah and Boman Irani feel a bit wooden at times in their delivery. I think that the usually likable Diljit could have lifted this decent murder mystery based on his pure charm but his character was not well created, hence for me this is a missed opportunity. It is not a poor movie but just a very average. I would recommend skipping it unless you are a big Diljit Dosanjh fan. 5/10.

Detective Sherdil (2025) : Movie Review -

Detective Sherdil is a regular whodunnit thriller, but only in the beginning. Soon, before you can even get involved with the murder mystery, it reveals that it isn't a whodunnit drama at all, but a howdunnit mystery. After watching thousands of classic murder thrillers, with almost nothing new left to explore, you can't really expect classic twists anymore. These days, either you make everyone a suspect, or build the narrative around how the murder was executed. The suspense around "who is the killer?" has grown dated-so here comes a fresh angle. Detective Sherdil tries this, but in the wrong tone. It goes the spoof route and adopts a comical style, which keeps you away from the seriousness of the murder plot, ultimately hurting the experience.

The story begins with Mr. Sherdil (Diljit Dosanjh), claimed to be the best detective in the force, who takes up the curious murder case of a billionaire, Pankaj Bhatti (Boman Irani). After his sudden death, the will is revealed, awarding most of his wealth to a dog and two outsiders-leaving the family shocked. Sherdil, joined by Natasha (Diana Penty) and his assistant, gets to work. The prime suspect is Purvak (Arjun Tanwar), the mute and deaf lover of Pankaj's equally mute and deaf daughter, Shanti Bhatti (Banita Sandhu). Everyone points fingers at Purvak, trying to convince Sherdil, but is he really the killer? The answer, of course, is no. So who is the actual culprit?

More than who the killer is, this film is about how it was done. Movie buffs have been second-guessing murder mysteries for decades-some guess right, some wrong-so novelty is lacking. Detective Sherdil tries to bring that novelty, but at what cost? The mystery build-up gets spoiled by childish humour and a spoof-like execution. While Sherdil's dialogues are written cleverly-at least on paper-the overall execution lacks quality. The characters and the environment lack the seriousness that a murder mystery demands, making it difficult to connect. Thankfully, it doesn't overstay its welcome. With a short runtime and a fast-paced screenplay, you quickly exit this cartoonish setup.

Diljit Dosanjh enjoys the screen time and plays his part with energy. From a comedy standpoint, he does well, but as a detective, supposedly the best in business, it's a weak show. Diana Penty looks charming, but her role isn't meaty enough to make a mark. Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah bring seniority to roles that didn't need it. Banita Sandhu is strictly average. Chunky Panday remains calm and subtle, while Sumeet Vyas is decent. Sarah Barlondo and Kashmira Irani provide fair support, and the rest of the cast does what's required without much impact.

Clocking a little over 100 minutes, Detective Sherdil doesn't exactly bore. But technically, there's not much to praise either. Cinematography and sound design stay average. The mouth organ used by Sherdil to set the mood feels odd and unnecessary. The production design needs no special mention either, as the film is mostly shot in a couple of locations. It's minimal and simple. Director Ravi Chhabriya should've struck a better tonal balance. The sarcasm and humour are overdone, while the actual mystery feels underplayed. Had the mystery been a little stronger and the humour toned down, the film might have worked better. For now, it lands somewhere between a light parody and an animated spoof-far from a gripping whodunnit.

RATING - 4/10*

After starting the movie i realised what this movie is copied from and only kept watching because of Diljit Dosanjh, as I am a big fan of his work and expected some comedy too but unfortunately I realised this is harf core copy of the famous movie Knives Out staring Daniel Craig with Indian masala, if you know those sequels you wouldn't want to see this movie unless until you're a Diljit fan. If you really want to enjoy a movie with such genre go watch the original Knives out movies, all 3 parts. Ofcourse the first part was the best but other three are also enjoyable. Overall not the worse movie I've seen but I feel it could've been better if they copied the original one ditto!

The movie is a complete letdown. There's no proper story, no emotional depth, and not a single moment of genuine comedy. It feels like a random sequence of scenes stitched together with no clear direction or purpose. The characters lack development, the dialogues are dull, and the entire film struggles to keep the audience engaged. Even the attempts at humor fall flat, making the experience tiresome rather than entertaining. It's hard to stay invested when there's nothing to connect with - no plot, no message, and no memorable performances. It's disappointing how much potential was wasted in trying to do everything but ending up doing nothing. If you're expecting entertainment, drama, or even a few good laughs, this film offers none. Just a drag from start to finish. Save your time and skip this one.